2019—2024 Strategic Plan

The Sierra Nevada Conservancy Governing Board approved the SNC Strategic Plan in December 2018, intended to guide our work from 2019 through 2024. This plan will be implemented in ongoing collaboration with multiple partners throughout the Region. An annual Action Plan has also been approved that sets forth the actions the SNC will take each year to implement its strategies laid out in the Strategic Plan.

A key element of this Strategic Plan is the establishment of the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program (WIP) as the SNC’s overarching initiative, providing a holistic approach to watershed and community health and resilience. The WIP was launched in March 2015 with the goal of increasing the pace and scale of ecological restoration by increasing investment, addressing policy impediments, and increasing infrastructure in the Region. Since that time, the WIP has been recognized as a model program for focusing resources and activities at the most difficult and dangerous problems and achieving success in breaking down organizational, political, and bureaucratic barriers. While the initial focus has been primarily on forest health issues, it was always intended that the WIP would approach watershed issues in a comprehensive manner. The launch of this Strategic Plan and the success in securing new funding for the SNC have provided the opportunity to expand the WIP beyond forest health to achieve five goals: Healthy Watersheds and Forests, Resilient Sierra Nevada Communities, Vibrant Recreation and Tourism, Lands Conserved and Impactful Regional Image. Watch a video explaining the expansion of the WIP.

Public Input

Significant public input has been gathered and considered in developing this Strategic Plan. In June 2017 the Board directed staff to begin a strategic assessment to consider the potential impacts of contemporary issues that had not been addressed in the prior strategic plan. The Board also directed staff to seek out potential partners who have not participated in earlier planning efforts and to gather and incorporate significant input from stakeholders who operate outside of the Region but who are beneficiaries of the ecosystem services emanating from the Region. Beginning in July 2017 and spanning eight months, SNC staff engaged in extensive outreach, conducting dozens of meetings, and gathering written and verbal ideas and input from hundreds of stakeholders. In addition, staff opened two public input sessions, inviting interested stakeholders and members of the public to comment on the development of Strategies (May/June) and the draft Strategic Plan (August/September). Input received was carefully considered and incorporated, as appropriate, into the Strategic Plan.

Strategy Development Comments

Comments were submitted in June 2018 and are listed in the order they were received:

The Sierra Nevada Conservancy Governing Board approved the SNC Strategic Plan in December 2018, intended to guide our work from 2019 through 2024. This plan will be implemented in ongoing collaboration with multiple partners throughout the Region. An annual Action Plan has also been approved that sets forth the actions the SNC will take each year to implement its strategies laid out in the Strategic Plan.

A key element of this Strategic Plan is the establishment of the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program (WIP) as the SNC’s overarching initiative, providing a holistic approach to watershed and community health and resilience. The WIP was launched in March 2015 with the goal of increasing the pace and scale of ecological restoration by increasing investment, addressing policy impediments, and increasing infrastructure in the Region. Since that time, the WIP has been recognized as a model program for focusing resources and activities at the most difficult and dangerous problems and achieving success in breaking down organizational, political, and bureaucratic barriers. While the initial focus has been primarily on forest health issues, it was always intended that the WIP would approach watershed issues in a comprehensive manner. The launch of this Strategic Plan and the success in securing new funding for the SNC have provided the opportunity to expand the WIP beyond forest health to achieve five goals: Healthy Watersheds and Forests, Resilient Sierra Nevada Communities, Vibrant Recreation and Tourism, Lands Conserved and Impactful Regional Image. Watch a video explaining the expansion of the WIP.

Public Input

Significant public input has been gathered and considered in developing this Strategic Plan. In June 2017 the Board directed staff to begin a strategic assessment to consider the potential impacts of contemporary issues that had not been addressed in the prior strategic plan. The Board also directed staff to seek out potential partners who have not participated in earlier planning efforts and to gather and incorporate significant input from stakeholders who operate outside of the Region but who are beneficiaries of the ecosystem services emanating from the Region. Beginning in July 2017 and spanning eight months, SNC staff engaged in extensive outreach, conducting dozens of meetings, and gathering written and verbal ideas and input from hundreds of stakeholders. In addition, staff opened two public input sessions, inviting interested stakeholders and members of the public to comment on the development of Strategies (May/June) and the draft Strategic Plan (August/September). Input received was carefully considered and incorporated, as appropriate, into the Strategic Plan.

Strategy Development Comments

Comments were submitted in June 2018 and are listed in the order they were received: